HAVANA — The Cuban Baseball Federation has revealed its selection of players who will represent world No. 3 Cuba in the first-ever WBSC Premier12™ global competition that is bringing the Top 12 nations in baseball to Japan and Taiwan from 8-21 November.
Cuban baseball legend and 1992 Olympic gold medallist Victor Mesa has been named manager and has called on the nation’s leading players to win the 2015 international baseball crown.
Cuba will feature top talent such as 2014 Cuban National Series MVP Yosvani Torres, 2004 Olympic gold medallist Yulieski Gourriel and 2008 Olympic silver medallist Alfredo Despaigne (Chiba Lotte Marines – NPB).
“Our objectives are clear,” Mesa stated, “to arrive in Japan [for the semi-finals and finale] and fight for gold.”
Cuba will compete in Taiwan in Group A and will have to face host and world No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Netherlands, No. 7 Canada, No. 9 Puerto Rico and No. 11 Italy. The four best from Group A will be paired with the four best from Group B in the quarter-final knockout stage.
Cuba’s first Premier12 global battle will be against Canada, the 2015 Pan-Am Games champions, at Taichung Intercontinental Stadium on Tuesday, 10 November.
In preparing for Premier12, world No. 8 South Korea (Group B) will host Cuba for two games that will officially open the new Gocheok Sky Dome, the first domed baseball stadium in the nation, on 4-5 November.
CUBAN NATIONAL TEAM PREMIER12 ROSTER
Pitchers (13): Yosvani Torres, Yoanni Yera, Danny Betancourt, Freddy Asiel Álvarez, Frank Monthiet, Alberto Bicet, Yoalkis Cruz, Jonder Martínez, Norberto González, Liván Moinello, Yunier Cano, José Ángel García, Héctor Mendoza (Yomiuri Giants – NPB)
Catchers (3): Osvaldo Vázquez, Yosvani Alarcón, Frank Camilo Morejón
Infielders (5): Yasiel Santoya, Alexander Malleta, Yorbis Borroto, Yordan Manduley, Yurisbel Gracial, Yulieski Gourriel, Rudy Reyes
Outfielders (5): Alfredo Despaigne, Julio Pablo Martínez, Stayler Hernández, Lourdes Yunieski Gourriel, Yunieski Gourriel
